Mechanism for dexamethasone inhibition of neutrophil migration upon exposure to lipopolysaccharide in vitro: role of neutrophil interleukin-8 release.

The mechanism by which dexamethasone (DEX) inhibits neutrophil (PMN) recruitment to a site of inflammation, such as the newborn lung with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, is not completely understood. The aim of our study was to determine whether DEX inhibits neutrophil-induced neutrophil recruitment by inhibition of interleukin- (IL) 8 release from PMNs, and if there are developmental differences. PMNs isolated from cord blood (CB) and adults (A) were studied.

Elevated urinary leukotriene E4 in chronic lung disease of extreme prematurity.

We determined if pulmonary peptidoleukotrienes contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic lung disease of extreme prematurity (CLD) by measuring urinary leukotriene E4 (uLTE4). Study patients had a birth weight < 1000 g and were about 28 d old when they were classified as normal control subjects (n = 8) or as having CLD (n = 26, abnormal chest X-ray, supplemental O2 requirement +/- ventilator). Urinary LTE4 levels were significantly elevated in CLD compared with the control group (288 +/- 92 versus 35 +/- 10 pg/mg creatinine, mean +/- SE, p < 0.

Prolonged pulmonary hypertension caused by platelet-activating factor and leukotriene C4 in the rat lung.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) and leukotrienes (LTs) are potent pulmonary hypertensive and inflammatory mediators produced by the lung. Previously we showed that a rapid injection of PAF into the pulmonary artery of an isolated rat lung produced an extended elevation in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP). The objective of the present study was to determine whether the extended pressor response induced by PAF was caused by prolonged activation of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway or slow clearance of LTs from the lung parenchyma.

The effects of endocrine therapy on plasma steroids in prostatic carcinoma patients.

Plasma testosterone (T), 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), T/DHT ratio, estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), E2/T ratio and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OH-P) were measured in 70 patients with prostatic carcinoma (PCA) (T34, N01, M01), after endocrine therapy including: steroidal estrogens (polyestradiol phosphate = Estradurin monthly in injections of 80 mg; estradiol - 17 beta: 5 mg/d), nonsteroidal synthetic estrogens (DES: 5 mg/d; chlorotrianisene = TACE: 24 mg/d; DES-diphosphate = Honvan: 360 mg/d), orchidectomy and their combinations. All these forms of treatment lowered T, DHT, T/DHT ratio and 17-OH-P, the maximal suppression being observed after castration. No further decrease of the mentioned parameters was achieved by estrogen treatment of castrated patients, as compared with castration alone.

Estradiol and progesterone receptor levels in human breast cancer in relation to cytosol and plasma estrogen level.

Estradiol receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) content along with the cytosol and plasma estrone and estradiol levels in 15 premenopausal and 26 postmenopausal women with breast cancer in different clinical stages (T123, N01, M0) were measured. ER-positive tumor frequency and the ER content tended to be higher in postmenopausal than in premenopausal patients. There was no evidence for a relationship between high cytosol estrogen levels and low receptor measurements.

Age-related changes of plasma steroids in normal adult males.

Plasma cortisol, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OH-P), testosterone (T), 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT, estrone (E1) and estradiol (E2), were measured in 94 normal adult men aged between 20-99, using RIA methods after chromatographic separation of steroids on Sephadex LH-20 columns. All plasma steroids except 17-OH-P, were age dependent: cortisol, testosterone and DHT decreased significantly with age, whereas estrone and estradiol were significantly increased in elderly men. Cortisol, testosterone, T/DHT ratio and estradiol levels were significantly correlated with age.

Plasma steroids in benign prostatic hypertrophy and carcinoma of the prostate.

Cortisol, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OH-P), progesterone, testosterone, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), estrone (E1) and estradiol (E2) were determined by RIA after chromatographic separation of steroids on Sephadex LH-20 columns, in 54 hospitalized patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and in 32 hospitalized patients with prostatic carcinoma (PCA) (T34, N01, M01). The patients' values were compared with those of 63 age-matched controls. Increased cortisol and DHT levels, subnormal estrogen and 17-OH-P values and normal progesterone level were found in both benign and malignant groups.

[Importance of hormone dependence of malignant tumors of the breast in orientation of the surgical treatment].

The authors have investigated the presence of oestrogenic and progesteronic receptors in 38 patients with breast cancer. It was noted that these receptors were present in 20 patients, and that the hormone-dependent tumours are more frequent in patients which are in the post-menopausal stage. The level of circulating oestrogens was also investigated, as well as the amount of oestrogens in the cytosol of tumor cells, and in the normal cells from the diseased breast.

Adrenal function in early and metastatic breast cancer: dexamethasone suppression of plasma cortisol.

Plasma cortisol, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OH-P), progesterone, FSH, LH and prolactin were determined by RIA, in 14 cancer patients without metastases aged between 40 and 74 years (6 cases of breast cancer: T123, N01, M0 and 8 with other forms of cancer). The cancer patients were investigated: (A) under basal conditions, (B) after three days' adrenal suppression by dexamethasone, 3 mg/day and (C) immediately after local radiation therapy (4500 rads). The basal mean hormonal values in these patients showed increased cortisol, decrease 17-OH-P and normal values of progesterone, FSH, LH and prolactin.

Plasma steroid dynamics in Cushing's syndrome.

The dynamics of five plasma steroids were studied by CPB and RIA in twenty patients with Cushing's syndrome of differing etiologies: pituitary induced adrenal hyperplasia (10), recurrence after adrenal surgery or pituitary irradiation (4), adrenal carcinoma (4) and adrenal adenoma (2). Basal mean values of plasma steroids, showed increase of cortisol in hyperplasia and cancer groups, increase of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OH-P) in recurrence and cancer groups and decrease of testosterone in male patients. In hyperplasia, the changes in 11-desoxycortisol and 17-OH-P (respectively by CPB assay and RIA after LH-20-Sephadex separation) were the reverse of those for cortisol 2 h and 24 h after metyrapone administration.

Urinary, plasma and adrenal tissue steroids in a male patient with Cushing's syndrome due to adrenal carcinoma.

The dynamics of urinary and plasma steroids (CPB and RIA) were simultaneously studied in a 36-yr-man with Cushing's syndrome due to adrenal carcinoma. The markedly increased basal excretion of 5-pregnenetriol, PG, PGT, DHA, THS and corticosteroids with nonsignificant changes during the endocrine tests decreased to normal levels after tumour removal. The basal low level of plasma testosterone, with nonsignificant changes during the endocrine tests, rose progressively after surgery.